Advantages: FREE Enteratinment, Stalls and Goodies!
Disadvantages: Very Busy, Big Crowd!

...West End Live Weekend My mum was coming up to London for the weekend so I decided to have a look in Time out to see if anything was going on in London that weekend, to my surprise and delight I discovered that a weekend event called West End Live was taking place. As many of you know I am trained in Performing Arts and enjoy going to see musicals so this was right up my street. When was it on? Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June 2006, 12noon - 6.30pm both days Where was it on? London's Leicester Square What is it? West End Live is a celebration of West End theatre put on by Westminster Council. The whole event is free with live performances from west shows such as The Lion King, Footloose, Mama Mia and Chicago as well as Youth Music Theatre Groups, Dance Companies and much more. The square is also filled with free... Read review

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Advantages: Packed with gags - most of which follow on nicely from a previous one
Disadvantages: Some pauses which could be unnecessary.

...From the back of the case:- 'A unique chance to experience the irrepressible energy and charm of "Lee Evans Live From The West End" Straight from starring opposite Jerry Lewis in the acclaimed feature film "Funny Bones" and following his own hit T.V. show - "The World of Lee Evans" - the brightest young star in British comedy performed exclusively for one night only live on stage in London's glittering West End. The audienceon this magical evening witnessed a show by Lee Evans which had never been seen before and featured the award winning "Bohemian Rhapsody" finale. It's impossible to resist the high speed sparkle and elastic talent of Lee Evans. This is the most frenzied and furious hour of comedy you will ever see.' Ok, This man is a comic genius in my eyes. From the way he leaps and bounds from one gag... Read review

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Advantages: Energetic display, entertaining.
Disadvantages: You must be joking!

...is surprising as he had just finished starring opposite Jerry Lewis in the acclaimed feature film "Funny Bones" and had finished starring in his own hit TV show "The World of Lee Evans". But despite the sub standard setting he still manages to turn out one hilarious anecdote after the other. One sketch that really sticks in my memory includes a story in which he asks a person for directions in a busy place. It turns out that the guy is a complete moron and with Lees' visual effects and comic voices a classic sketch is born; I have since then seen this story being told by him in more recent shows such as Wired and Wonderful. As always he presents himself in a three piece suit, which after thirty minutes is drenched in sweat. Most people will just use the microphone for its original purpose, but in Live from the West End as in his other... Read review

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Advantages: A truely "wicked" time
Disadvantages: No ice cream seller in the interval

...me the tickets and off we went to be shown to our seats. Well, I have to say, they didn’t skimp on price as we were 8 rows from the front, right in the middle and had an absolutely fabulous view! The show starts, with a simple but effective backdrop, the music is throbbing away in the background, and the first characters come onto the stage. Now at this point, I have to say, I wondered whether I had ended up going to see Grease instead, as the costumes were a little dated to say the least, but then it has been quite a few years since I saw the film, and the book must have been about for a long time as well, so maybe it was in line with the expectations of the author, John Updike. However, you may be pleased to hear that the costumes did improve by the end of the show! Costumes aside, we meet the “witches”... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful score, set and performances.
Disadvantages: 1st cast not always performing.

...I urge you to see this new musical playing at the Dominion Theatre in London's West End. It is based on the classic Victor Hugo novel 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame', a story that most of us are familiar with. Although this show is listed under 'musicals' it really is more of a theatre spectacle, nestling next to Riverdance and Cirque de Soleil in it's concept. It is highly original in design and content, mixing modern dance and acrobatics/breakdancing in the style of the choreography. The set is magnificent, with huge gargoyles moving across the stage and cast members absailing the huge wall at the back to represent Notre Dame. Check with the box office for which performers are on for a particular show, the cast have to alternate due to the very heavy demands on their singing voices. I was lucky to see Tina Arena... Read review

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Advantages: genius
Disadvantages: little variety between songs (but if it aint broke dont fix it)

...the East and one from the West, and their battles. There’s a pained chorus of “We-e-e-est E-e-e-end riot riot!” before more (yes you guessed it) brilliant guitars, then towards the end the song slows down to deliver its moral. Great stuff! Next is ‘Bloody Mary’, which is the first track in which the lead singer calms down a bit and really proves he does actually have a great voice. It is more relaxed than some other numbers but it’s still not exactly sleep music! I don’t really need to say this now I’m sure, but as usual there are plenty of injections of Chris Cheney’s brilliance here. Moving on, the sixth track is ‘Monday’, a song that has a sad subject told angrily and through the eyes of children “I don’t wanna play on Monday!” This song is furious and moody and brilliant and guitary and I love it. Next is “All Torn Down... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic dance scenes.
Disadvantages: Some of the music

.... Other Jet members were - Ice - Tucker Smith, Action - Tony Mordente, A-Rab - David Winters, Baby John - Eliot Feld and Anybody's - Sue Oakes. ~~ The Sharks ~~ Bernardo - George Chakiris - Gang Leader of the Puerto Ricans, he was just as hot headed as Riff, overly protective of his sister and dating Anita. There was a nice scene on the roof of his apartment block where America was sung. He plays the part of an arrogant youth with attitude. Other Sharks members were - Anita (already mentioned), Chino - Jose De Vega, Pepe - Jay Norman, Indio - Gus Trikonis (Gus's sister was also in the show, Gina Trikonis she played Grazella Riff's girlfriend), and Consuelo - Yvonne Othon ~~ Songs ~~ This is a musical and no musical will be without its Songs so here we go: The Overture - takes us through the title West Side Story... Read review

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Advantages: The music and dancing
Disadvantages: Some ropey sets and poor acting by Richard Beymer

...Well here she is again musicals, musicals, musicals. .....I can't stop I love them all so much. West Side Story - what can I say that hasn't been said before. A modern day love story based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, but with a somewhat different ending. Maria does not commit suicide as Juliet does, but instead feels her life has ended because of everything that has happened to her. The true ending of Romeo and Juliet was deemed to be too depressing for filmgoing audiences, hence the change. Again, originally a stage show later made into a movie, West Side Story is directed by Robert Wise, who went on to further fame when he directed Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music. Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim are responsible for the amazing musical score, indeed Sondheim was a protege of the famous Oscar Hammerstein, who... Read review

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Advantages: They can make you laugh, cry, ponder, feel good...
Disadvantages: None!!!

...and accessible. The opening song, 'Heaven on their Minds' instantly draws the audience into the action with a funky bass riff and the sinister yet addictive voice of Judas. The dramatic power is overwhelming and putting theism or atheism aside, Webber does justice to the story of Jesus' crucifiction; the sacrifice, the violence, the crulty, the love, and the grief. Famous numbers: 'I don't Know How to Love Him', 'Jesus Christ superstar'. 3) Les Miserables I have to be honest and admit that the first time I saw this I didn't think it was all that. However, I was extremely young, it was in Southampton not the West End, and we had the worst seats in the house!! My boyfriend was horrified when he discovered that I couldn't really remember any of the musical (it is his favourite musical) and he immediately booked us front row, dress... Read review

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Advantages: Music
Disadvantages: None

...? Ok not really!! WHO HAVEN'T YOU SEEN THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO? Neil Diamond HAVE YOU SEEN A WEST END MUSICAL? No – I’m not a huge lover of musicals, unless it’s The Sound of Music, Oliver, Grease, Dirty Dancing. Ok so I do like some musicals, but have never seen any West End ones. OPINIONS - MANUFACTURED BANDS HAVE NO RIGHT TO MAKE MUSIC. DISCUSS! I would have to question why they have no right to make music. There are too many manufactured bands these days – and before anyone says it Westlife were not manufactured - but they have as much right as anyone else to make music. Whether some consider that manufactured bands do actually produce music is another matter, but they have every right to make music if they can. The fact that there are so many manufactured bands, must mean that the public demand it and enjoy... Read review

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